Blackhawks down Hunters

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
THE PNG Hunters lost their eighth game of the season 24-14 to the Townsville Blackhawks yesterday.
Two tries by speedy fullback Zac Santo in the first half and some gritty defensive work in the second 40 minutes propelled the Blackhawks to their first win on PNG soil and the Air Niugini Kokoda Cup.
The hosts started well with a try to No.1 Bland Abavu, pictured, in the opening minute when a failed intercept by Michael Carroll saw the Hunters counter attack, with the Koiari man scoring his second four-pointer of the year.
The Blackhawks hit back through dangerman Santo’s brace and were in again through reserve hooker Josh Chudleigh who pushed past Abavu to go over from close range in the 32nd minute to get the score to 16-4.
Justin Yoka’s injection into the game paid off with the playmaker creating space and time in a backline move that saw Abavu put winger Brendon Gotuno into a gap to score a try four minutes before the halftime hooter.
Unfortunately, neither of the Hunters two tries were converted, leaving the halftime score at 16-8.
Blackhawks five-eighth Kyle Laybutt guided his side to victory with his kicking game and direction in the second stanza as the game got testy at times with the Hunters frustrated by some refereeing calls.
The home side were the first to score in the second half with centre Brandon Nima capitalising off a spilled bomb by Santo in the 42nd minute with Charlie Simon, who started at halfback before shifting to dummy half, slotting the conversion and reducing the margin to two points at 16-14.
Mistakes at crucial stages and some desperate defence by the Blackhawks kept the game on a knife’s edge until winger Kalifa Faifai Loa crossed in the 58th minute to give the Townsville men an eight-point buffer at 22-14.
Referee Daniel Schwass penalized Abavu in the 72nd minute for an incorrect play-the-ball which saw centre Levi Dodd kick a penalty goal to widen the gap.
Tempers flared in the final minute of play when Blackhawks captain took exception to some overly aggressive defence by the Hunters rake Patrick Morea but things were quickly brought under control.
Hunters captain Moses Meninga congratulated the Blackhawks for their performance in winning the match and the Air Niugini Kokoda Cup.
“We thank the Blackhawks for the game,” Meninga said.
“We had it for the first two years and now you have won it so congratulations.
“We wish you all well in your future and to my boys thank you for the effort today and we might be down but we are not out.”
Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne thanked the Hunters, Air Niugini and PNGRFL for the Kokoda Cup intiative.
“We’re grateful to Air Niugini and PNGRFL for enabling us to play for the Kokoda Cup and today we’re privileged to claim it,” Payne said. Hunters 14 (Bland Abavu, Brendon Gotuno, Brandon Nima tries; Charlie Simon con) Blackhawks 24 (Zac Santo 2, Josh Chudleigh, Kalifa Faifai Loa tries; Levi Dodd 3 con, pen)
Results: Rd 9 – Sat, May 4: TH Seagulls 36 Devils 8, Jets 28 Capras 18, Dolphins 0 Bears 48, Cutters 22 Pride 6; Sun, May 5: Magpies 4 Falcons 72, WM Seagulls 38 Tigers 22, Hunters 14 Blackhawks 24.